The former home of Idris Elba, Colin Firth and even Edgar Allen Poe, the buzzing borough of Hackney truly has something for everyone. 

It's made up of multiple neighbourhoods, each with its own unique character – Shoreditch, Hoxton, London Fields and Dalston are all known for their creative industries, buzz and nightlife; London Fields lido is a hot spot during the summer, while Hackney City Farm makes a great family day out. At the weekend, Broadway Market has everything you could possibly wish for, from traditional jellied eels through to tapas and sourdough pizza.

The parks and canals are a big draw. London Fields is a particularly popular green space surrounded by plane trees. As well as the swimming pool, there are tennis and basketball courts, a cricket pitch, outdoor gym and you can even play pétanque (boules). A walk along the canal at Regent’s Row takes you to Victoria Park in one direction and Angel in the other.

Hackney is one of the best places in London for a spot of shopping, with its many independent shops and boutiques, from quirky cookware at Prep, books galore at independent booksellers The Broadway Bookshop, curtains and cushions at The Hackney Draper, jewellery at Netil House studio and second-hand clothes and furniture at Somewhere in Hackney Vintage under the railway arches. The original Boxpark pop-up mall is also close by.

Hackney has long been popular with creatives – it’s is full of art, from street art to street fashion and is often the first with the latest trend. It's also home to families and young professionals who are attracted by the good local schools and the short commute into the City and Canary Wharf. 

There is a real mix of property types in Hackney, with Victorian and Georgian homes sitting alongside canal-side apartments and new builds. For this reason, the area appeals to a variety of homeowners, from first-time buyers and downsizers, through to growing families looking for a London home with a garden. The average second-hand sale price of a home in Hackney is £623,455, while detached houses, or those with large gardens, on a garden square or on Regent's Canal will command an even greater premium. Flats in the area cost an average of £519,131.

Thirty minutes from central London, Hackney is an East End neighbourhood with lots to do as well as easy access to the city centre. It's on the London Overground line (known as the Ginger line) and numerous bus routes pass through the area. Despite its accessibility, much of the attraction for locals is the feeling of being away from the hustle and bustle of the capital when it’s time to switch off, not to mention the very real sense of community.

So whether you’re a keen swimmer, a budding artist or have a young family in need of room to grow – it’s all happening in Hackney.

Further information

Contact Jen Holmes

Savills Hackney Kingsland Road

In Focus and On Foot – expert views on local neighbourhoods